Introduction
Annie Zhang is an associate in Nixon Peabody’s Corporate Practice group. She represents public and private companies and not-for-profits on matters related to employee benefits and executive compensation.
My focus
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
Annie provides ongoing advice to clients on complex employee benefits and federal income tax issues for a broad range of retirement, health and welfare, fringe benefits, and deferred compensation arrangements for private, public, and nonprofit entities and in the collective bargaining and corporate transaction context. She advises on day-to-day benefit administration, fiduciary, and governance matters related to ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, the Affordable Care Act, COBRA, HIPAA, the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, the Consolidated Appropriations Act (including the No Surprises Act), SECURE Act, and SECURE 2.0 Act. Annie has extensive experience working with clients to design and implement comprehensive employee benefit programs that align with organizational goals and regulatory requirements. She assists clients in navigating the complexities of compliance, ensuring that benefit plans meet stringent and ever-evolving legal standards. She is also adept at negotiating service agreements to achieve maximum transparency, fiduciary protections, and appropriate fee arrangements.
Looking ahead
As litigation and regulatory scrutiny over fiduciary obligations in the management and administration of health and welfare benefits intensify, plan fiduciaries must proactively create and implement formal, well documented governance and compliance processes to mitigate emerging risks and protect against costly legal challenges.
In the news
- Employee Benefit Plan Review
Managing increasing health and welfare fiduciary risks
Corporate partners Damian Myers of Washington, DC and Yelena Gray of Chicago, counsel Lena Gionnette of Rochester, and associate Annie Zhang of Washington, DC, all members of NP’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team, contributed this column, discussing how to manage increasing health and welfare fiduciary risks.May 1, 2024 - Journal of Compensation and Benefits
OTC COVID-19 test coverage requirements under group health plans
This article contributed by Corporate partners Damian Myers in Washington, DC and Yelena Gray in Chicago, and associate Annie Zhang in Washington, DC—all of the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team—discusses updated federal requirements for group health plans covering over-the-counter COVID-19 tests purchased by members without an order or clinical assessment from a healthcare provider.May 9, 2022
Admitted to practice
District of Columbia
Indiana
Illinois
Education
Washington and Lee University, B.A., cum laude
Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, J.D., cum laude
Recognition
- Selected as a 2025 Pathfinder for the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD)
- District of Columbia Courts’ Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll (High Honors in 2019 and 2020)
Insights And Happenings
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Employee Benefits Briefing
Professionals in the Practice Area
View AllEric Paley
Partner / Team Leader, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation- Rochester
- Office:+1 585.263.1012
- epaley@nixonpeabody.com
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